I'm looking for some advice.I used to write a lot, but slacked off over the years. I'm 23 (about to be 24 now) and I'm finally trying to get back into writing, but I find the ideas just don't come as well as they used too.It seems more like I come up with character concepts, or pieces of unrelated stories. I never come up with a simple story premise, or a properly interconnected series of events.I just can't seem to write stories anymore. I considered taking a course for fiction writing, but I'm afraid I won't be able to supply enough material to pass it. What should I do?
Oh, and, uh, picture unrelated.
Take the course. The premises and the connections between events will only come when you are writing regularly. You can't simply think your way through fiction, but must keep your pen moving/fingers typing.
Take the course if it isn't too much hassle on other stuff going on.Also, keep in mind that no two pieces of anything are unrelated. If they really interest you and you believe they can interact with good chemistry, find a way.
Writing classes are there to teach you, not for you to give them things in exchange for a grade (CYNICISM ASIDE).Take the class.
You can make characters?Awesome stick them in a room and give one a reason to kill the other
If you take the class I guarantee you you will be supplied with exercises. Took a intro creative writing class years ago and the book I had had pictures and they'd ask you to write something about it. Or they'd talk about some aspect of childhood and write about if you had a similar experience. And my teacher who was a writer who had worked in Hollywood always started the class with a quote from someone and we'd discuss things about it.In other words the class was very nurturing to the creative experience. In fact I wish I could go back and take it again with everything I know now.Take the class!Also look up writing prompt sites. They'll give you stuff like 2 old friends randomly bump into each other at a restaurant one of them seems anxiousor the classic 3 noun setup where you just list 3 nouns and try and build something from there. Ex: Sisters. House. Old Chair. or Athlete. Mother. Car.
>>4181 >It seems more like I come up with character concepts, or pieces of unrelated stories. I never come up with a simple story premise, or a properly interconnected series of events. Take these, and stop worrying about being a writer. Focus for the moment on being an observational psychologist for fictional characters.Take notes. What drives them? Why? What makes things important to them? Who do they interact with?Are their seperate, independent stories REALLY unrelated?
Echoing what everyone else here is saying. Take the class, assuming you haven't already.